Sister's housemate wants to bring her father's body to stay at their home for 5 days before funeral. Advice?

My sister's just phoned me in bits. She works as a teacher further up North from me on one of the small islands. She shares a house with a fellow teacher/colleague.

The housemate is an only child. Her elderly father died last night and the mother has refused to have his body at their home because she wouldn't be able to cope. She also doesn't want the body to remain at the funeral parlour or go to chapel. So the mother has asked her daughter - my sister's housemate - to have him at her house instead, to which the housemate agreed.

My sister is really uncomfortable with this. Especially as it's going to be an open coffin until the day of the funeral (middle of next week). The housemate plans to hold 2-3 rosaries and the wake at their house, too.

My sister - who is really quiet and usually a 'yes' person - has told her housemate she's not happy with this arrangement, and it will make her really uncomfortable.

The housemate really didn't take this well and it ended with the mother phoning my sister and calling her selfish.

My sister doesn't know what to do. It's a really small town she lives in, with just one very expensive hotel. My parents have refused to loan her the money to stay at the hotel for the week as they feel the housemate should fork up at least half.

My sister also doesn't want to have to move, because it's so far from school/work, and there's no guarantee there'll be any rooms (it's only a 7-room place).

She doesn't know where she stands. It's not a religious difference, as they're both the same religion. it's just the thought of her father's open coffin being in their living room for all that time, and all the family visiting through the week.

My sister and housemate aren't particularly friends, but they've always been civil up until now.

Does anyone have any advice i could pass on?

(I told her to come on here herself but she refused to because she doesn't have children )

Thanks for the update Mumford.That is shocking.I do hope the landlord will release her from the lease. But as long as your sister is there, I hope she can develop a cold indifference to the housemate and just not ever speak to her again. The housemate avoiding the conversation in the moment makes my blood boil too, StoicButStressed.

I'm with DontmindifIdo and the idea of letting this story be known locally. Even if you were to escort your sister around, Mumford, a la Lady Harriet and Molly Gibson in "Wives and Daughters" (not exactly the same context, but ykwim), it would be well deserved and serve the housemate right.

<<being very glad I decided to "splurge" and rent dd a one bedroom at university>>

I'd guess that there is no need to make the story known locally - everyone will know about it already. It is a small community where it is more than likely that everyone will know about everyone else's business. Some people may think that it was incredibly generous of the OP's sister to accede to the request. Others will think the housemate and mother went too far.

Your poor sis, although I think she needs to become a bit more assertive. I would have put my foot down from the start. I would also be looking to move out ASAP, contract or not. The housemate's behaviour is completely out of order.

Sorry I know I'm bumping this but am I right in thinking the housemate slept on the sofa in the living room right next to the body of her own father for two nights?????? While her mother was in her bed??????

I just wanted to thank you all for your advice. There is another unfortunate thread going on at the moment speculating whether or not i'm a 'troll'. I certainly am not. I realise this subject is unusual, but posted because my sister was relying on me for help/support, and i didn't know what to do.

I sincerely hope no one thinks i was taking the mick out of them, or wasting their time.

Things are going well now. My sister has a new job starting in August and is moving to the Highlands. Still a long way away, but at least she's on the Mainland. She reckons it'll be a four hour drive from me. She's going househunting over summer. And assures me she's definitely going to be living alone, so is saving like a trooper.